Brief Overview of Contact Lenses for Myopia Control

by Luis Ramirez, OD, MS

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is becoming more common in children and is something that should be monitored yearly or, depending on the child, sometimes more often. During these eye exams, one of the most common questions parents may ask is, “Did my child’s prescription worsen?” followed by the question, “Is there anything that we can do about it?”. Fortunately, new treatment options have been developed to help slow down the progression of nearsightedness while still providing clear vision.

You may be wondering why slowing myopia progression is important. As myopia increases, the eye grows longer at a faster pace than a non-myopic eye. A longer eye can increase the risk of future eye disease later in life such as retinal problems, glaucoma, and myopic degeneration. By slowing myopia progression, we are also slowing the eye elongation, ultimately reducing the risk of future eye problems.

What are the options to slow down myopia progression and how do they work?

There are several options available for myopia control, including special eyeglasses, atropine eye drops, and special contact lenses. These contact lenses are designed to change how the light focuses on the eye, with the goal of slowing abnormal eye growth and keeping prescriptions stable over time. There are two main contact lens options for this: multifocal soft contact lenses and overnight contact lenses called orthokeratology.

Soft contact lenses are worn during the day to provide clear vision while helping slow down myopia progression. Currently, there is only one FDA-approved daily contact lens for myopia control in children in the United States. This is a daily disposable lens that does not correct for astigmatism. There are other soft multifocal contact lens options, including lenses with longer replacement periods, that can correct astigmatism if needed. Although these other options do not have FDA approval yet for myopia control, they have also been shown to slow down the progression of myopia.

Orthokeratology lenses differ from soft lenses in that they are only worn overnight while sleeping. These lenses temporarily and safely reshape the cornea to change the way light is focused in the eye, correcting vision while also helping to slow the progression of myopia. In the morning, the lenses are removed, allowing the child to see clearly during the day without the need for glasses or contact lenses!

Both soft multifocal contact lenses and orthokeratology can be effective options for myopia control. The best choice depends on the child’s prescription, lifestyle, and comfort. Schedule an appointment with your optometrist to determine which option is best for your child.